Yee Drops Out of Secretary of State Race

Earlier this week Yee was arrested and charged with seven counts of wire fraud and gun trafficking. He’s accused of using his Senate connections in exchange for campaign contributions. Yee allegedly set up meetings for undercover FBI agents with other state lawmakers and gun runners. His arrest was part of a sting operation that also snared San Francisco gang leader Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow and 24 others.

Senate Democrats and Republicans have called on Yee to resign. But Yee’s attorney, Paul DeMeester, would not say whether Yee would leave the Senate.

“We’re dealing with one issue at a time,” he says. “So, right now, he’s made the very decision of withdrawing from this race. And other issue’s we’ll deal with as time progresses.”

Democratic leaders say they will vote to suspend Yee if he doesn’t leave office willingly. US Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have issued statements calling for Yee’s resignation.

Campaign finance rules allow Yee to use money from his Secretary of State campaign account to pay his legal fees.

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